Transportation
Angus Gillespie
Professor
Department of American Studies
School of Arts and Sciences
Key topics: The Legend of the Jersey Devil: In 1735, Mother Leeds was about to deliver her thirteenth child. Feeling tired and weary of the burden, she cursed the unborn child. According to the folklore, she gave birth to the devil’s child at their home in the Pine Barrens. Today, the tale of Jersey Devil is often discussed as just that – a tale. However, during the time of the fabled Jersey Devil’s reign of terror, South Jersey residents were truly frightened. How the accounts were reported on and the folklore that developed will be discussed during this session.
Jersey’s Most Famous Road, the Turnpike: Think back to your last Turnpike experience. For some, it’s an occasional ride, for others it’s part of the daily grind. Have you considered what it took to create that road? New Jersey was a pioneer in major highway innovation (the Turnpike even predates the interstate highway system). In this interactive discussion, participants will be encouraged to consider its execution, significance in travel, aesthetics, and impact and how it can be seen as an emblem of American ideas and values.
New York City’s World Trade Center: Today the Twin Towers of New York City’s World Trade Center stand only in our memory, an image that calls to mind sorrow and loss. But during the days that they straddled the skyline, the towers meant many things to many people. To the crowds of tourists who visited daily, they were a man-made wonder with a breathtaking view. To many architects, they were an aesthetic nightmare. And for thousands of everyday people, the towers were the bustling familiar place where they made their living eight hours a day.
A graduate of Yale and a Fulbright Scholar, Angus Kress Gillespie is Professor of American Studies at Rutgers University. He has appeared on National Public Radio, Good Morning America, and Larry King Live. He is also founder of…
... read more
Michael Lahr
Research Professor
Rutgers Economic Advisory Service
Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy
Key topics: NJ and National Economy, economic development (including incentives), economic modeling techniques, transportation economics
Dr. Michael Lahr serves as the Director of Rutgers Economic Advisory Service (R/ECON™). He is also a Research Professor of Planning and Public Policy at the Edward J. Bloustein School where he teaches a course on Global Analytics and…
... read moreJack Molenaar
Director
Rutgers University Department of Transportation
Key topics: Pedestrian and bicycle planning and design, traffic calming solutions, parking, parking management, transit solutions.
Jack Molenaar is a transportation planner with more than 22 years of experience in the public and private sectors. At Rutgers, he oversees the university's bus system, which is the second largest in the state, and is responsible for traffic…
... read more
Anton Nelessen
Professor
Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
Anton C. Nelessen has been teaching Urban Design and professional practice first at Harvard and currently at Rutgers for the past 39 years. He has emerged as one of the nations most respected urban visionaries. He has more than 40 years of…
... read more
Michael Smart
Assistant Professor
Urban Planning
Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
Key topics: Transportation, changing demographics of US cities, decline in driving, public opinion toward mass transportation
Dr. Smart's current research explores the decline in vehicle ownership and use among young adults in the United States and across the developed world, focusing on the extent of generational shifts away from the automobile. Other research…
... read more